Release Detail

February 24, 2006 - Clinton, Giuliani Lead Presidential Pack In Florida,
Quinnipiac University Poll Finds;
Nelson Has 22-Point Lead Over Harris In Senate Race

New York Sen. Hillary Clinton and former New York City Mayor Rudolph Giuliani top the list of
2008 presidential candidates, Florida voters say in a Quinnipiac University poll released today.

Giuliani, who some have speculated might not run well among the socially conservative
southern GOP, is the 2008 presidential choice of 47 percent of Florida Republicans, followed by
Arizona Sen. John McCain with 29 percent. No other GOP contender tops 10 percent in this
survey by the independent Quinnipiac (KWIN uh-pe-ack) University poll.

Sen. Hillary Clinton is the leader among Democrats, with 41 percent, followed by
Massachusetts Sen. John Kerry and former North Carolina Sen. John Edwards at 14 percent each,
and Delaware Sen. Joseph Biden at 8 percent.

"Rank and file Florida Republicans either don't know or don't care about Mayor Giuliani's
support for abortion rights and gay rights as they make him the clear presidential choice over John
McCain," said Peter A. Brown, assistant director of the Quinnipiac University Polling Institute.

"Less surprising is Sen. Clinton's 27-point lead over any other candidate when Florida
Democrats are asked about their choice for president. Even in Red America Clinton is the apple
of Democrats' eye," Brown said.

"McCain runs better against Clinton than does Giuliani. She loses among independents by
12 points to Giuliani, but by 26 points to McCain."
U.S. Senate Race

"U.S. Rep. Harris has gained no ground against Sen. Nelson, who has a lukewarm 49 - 20
percent approval rating for the third poll in a row," Brown said.

Florida voters disapprove 50 - 46 percent of the job President George W. Bush is doing,
compared to 61 - 37 percent disapproval November 16, his lowest score ever in Florida. Voters
disapprove 54 - 41 percent of the President's handling of the war in Iraq and say 51 - 42 percent
that going to war in Iraq was the wrong thing to do.

"Although President Bush still doesn't have a net positive job approval among Floridians,
his numbers have increased significantly since November," Brown said.

From February 15 - 20, Quinnipiac University surveyed 1,076 Florida registered voters
with a margin of error of +/- 3 percentage points. The survey includes 429 Democratic voters
with a margin of error of +/- 4.7 percentage points and 443 Republican voters with a margin of
error of +/- 4.7 percentage points.
The Quinnipiac University Poll, directed by Douglas Schwartz, Ph.D., conducts public
opinion surveys in Florida, Pennsylvania, New York, New Jersey, Connecticut and the nation as a
public service and for research.
For additional data-www.quinnipiac.edu and quicklinks

3. Do you approve or disapprove of the way Bill Nelson is handling his job as
United States Senator?

17. Who would you most like to see the Democrats nominate for President in 2008
if the candidates were; New York Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton, Wisconsin
Senator Russ Feingold, former Virginia Governor Mark Warner, Delaware Senator
Joseph Biden, Massachusetts Senator John Kerry and former North Carolina Senator
John Edwards?

18. Who would you most like to see the Republicans nominate for President in 2008
if the candidates were Arizona Senator John McCain, Virginia Senator George Allen,
Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist and former New York City Mayor Rudolph Giuliani?